But in the Tailai Inn, Xu Yan and Chen Maoli were playing chess.
Xu Yan played black, Chen Maoli played white. The two fought fiercely, and it was difficult to tell who would win.
"Brother Yishi, your chess moves are so wild!"
Xu Yan smiled slyly: "Same here."
After saying this, he made his move and cut off contact with Chen Maoli.
Chen Maoli gasped when he saw this: "Brother Yi Shi is so cruel!"
"Ahem, it's okay."
Although Xu Yan's chess skills are unconventional, they are very practical. His overall idea is to constantly lead the situation into chaos in order to make profits.
Although Chen Maoli's chess skills are good, he is generally too conventional. When faced with Xu Yan's reckless style of play, he can easily be overwhelmed.
Sure enough, as the game entered the middle stage, Xu Yan's advantage became bigger and bigger, while Chen Maoli was constantly struggling to cope.
Chen Maoli shook his head and said with a wry smile, "I've given up and admitted defeat."
Xu Yan beat the master to death with a flurry of punches, and he felt very happy.
"Then Brother Lu Qing must drink three cups of wine as punishment."
"It's natural."
Chen Maoli poured himself a glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp. He then drank two more glasses in a row, turning the glass towards Xu Yan.
I have to say that Chen Maoli’s alcohol tolerance is really not good. His face turned red after just three cups.
"Brother Yishi, let's have another round!"
Chen Maoli was about to pick up the child when he saw Shuangxi running over and said to Xu Yan, "Master, someone from the government office is here and wants to see you."
Xu Yan couldn't help but frown.
It would be really a disservice to have someone from the yamen come at this time.
"Brother Lu Qing, please wait a moment. I'll go and take a look."
Chen Maoli nodded: "No rush."
Xu Yan stood up, straightened his robe, and pushed the door open, only to be greeted by two familiar faces.
Sure enough, they were the two brothers who came last time!
"Brother He, right? I wonder what you want from me, Xu?"
This fat officer was so conspicuous that Xu Yan couldn't help but remember him!
"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. Mr. Xu, you really are embarrassing me. The master of the mansion has ordered you to go to the government office as soon as possible."
Xu Yan keenly noticed the change in the way Officer He addressed him.
The first two times when He came, he always called him "young master" at most, but this time he changed his address to "husband".
You should know that "Xianggong" was another name for scholar in the Ming Dynasty, and ordinary people were not worthy of it.
Could it be that the results of the provincial examination have come out?
That wasn't right. Even if Xu Yan passed the prefectural exam, there was still the hurdle of the imperial examination. Although the Ningbo prefectural imperial examination would likely still be presided over by Magistrate Ma due to Zhejiang's current lack of a provincial education official, it still had to be held. Could it be that this officer had such a sharp eye that he had already seen that Magistrate Ma was going to recommend him for the title of scholar?
Xu Yan felt confused for a moment!
"In that case, please allow me to change my clothes."
Xu Yan was wearing casual clothes, but since he was going to meet Magistrate Ma, he naturally had to change into a better silk shirt.
Officer He was so anxious that he kept jumping up and down: "Young Master Xu, don't worry about these things. The most important thing is to go and see the master as soon as possible."
Isn't this too abnormal? Even if Magistrate Ma wanted to see him, there was no need to be so urgent, right?
"Well, then I will go and pay my respects to the Lord."
Xu Yan returned to the house, informed Shuangxi and Chen Maoli, then turned around and left, followed by the two yamen runners.
Strangely enough, Xu Yan hardly saw anyone along the way from Chengxian Street to the government office.
You should know that the Japanese pirates have already looted and left, and Ningbo Prefecture has long returned to normal life.
It shouldn't be such a bleak scene!
Before long, they arrived in front of the government office. Officer He was the first to step forward and speak to the gatekeeper. He then returned and said to Xu Yan in a low voice, "Young Master Xu, remember not to wander around. Just follow me closely."
"Don't worry, Brother He."
The atmosphere today seemed strange no matter how one looked at it. Xu Yan was really curious about what Magistrate Ma was up to!
However, he followed two yamen runners into the government office, and did not go straight to the back hall as usual, but came to the second hall.
The main hall is where cases are heard publicly, while the second hall is relatively secluded and suitable for handling important official business.
The moment Xu Yan arrived in front of the second hall, he finally understood.
I saw dozens of strong men wearing flying fish robes and embroidered spring swords on their waists standing in front of the hall.
It turned out to be the Jinyiwei!
There is no need to explain what the Embroidered Uniform Guard represents. It seems that someone must have come from the palace!
His keen intuition told him that the reason why Magistrate Ma sent someone to find him might be related to the matter of offering auspicious signs!
Xu Yan's heart was in turmoil and extremely excited.
"Xu Xiaoxianggong, please do as you please."
He Yayi had completed his mission by bringing the person to the office, but what happened next was not something that someone of his status could handle.
"Thank you!"
Xu Yan took a deep breath, straightened his robe, and adjusted his scarf before he mustered up the courage to step into the hall.
What surprised Xu Yan was that he did not see the big shot he had imagined after entering the hall.
Just as he was puzzled, a middle-aged man wearing a brown-green double-breasted Confucian robe and holding a feather fan walked out from behind the screen.
He didn't know this person, but judging from his temperament, he was definitely not an ordinary person.
"Mr. Xu is finally here."
"Do you know me?"
"I am Tan Lun, a distinguished staff member of the Ma Mansion. I have the honor of meeting Master Xu, but unfortunately, Master Xu has never met me."
Tan Lun said calmly, "Mr. Xu, please wait here for a moment. Mr. Dong is entertaining the imperial envoy in the back hall."
It has to be said that Tan Lun left a very good impression on Xu Yan. Compared with him, County Magistrate Zhao's advisor was much worse.
Xu Yan was right in his guess, someone was coming from the palace!
"Is the imperial envoy waiting for someone?"
"Indeed, I thought Magistrate Zhao would arrive soon, but now it seems it will take at least another hour. The imperial envoy is a little impatient, so Dong Weng accompanied him to the back court to relax."
Xu Yan thought to himself that this imperial envoy also knew how to enjoy life. The garden built by Magistrate Ma was probably better than many gardens in the capital.
Since the imperial envoy was waiting for Magistrate Zhao and contacted Prefect Ma who then asked him to come, Xu Yan was certain that this matter was related to offering auspicious signs.
If you calculate the time carefully, it's about the same, just one round trip from the capital to Hangzhou.
It seems that Emperor Jiajing was very satisfied with the white turtle and specially ordered people to come to Ningbo to convey his imperial decree to commend those who presented the auspicious sign.
This is basically consistent with Xu Yan's judgment of Emperor Jiajing.
The Jiajing Emperor was a man of ostentatious ambitions. Although he kept it a secret, he desperately wanted his officials to praise his achievements. Those who opposed him generally met with a miserable end.
But Emperor Jiajing was very concerned about his reputation, so he could be flattered but not too directly or explicitly.
It is not easy to serve such a person well.
It’s a pity that he came too hastily. If he had known earlier, he would have waited. Xu Yan would have changed into a more stylish outfit.
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